Pregnant | Maternity Photo Inspiration

These are hands down the most attractive, respectful and endearing maternity photos that I have seen. Photographer Kelly Hicks captured her pregnant little sister at home, in her bedroom, wearing simple, soft, and comfortable clothing. The poses are pretty, not showy, and do a great job showcasing the simple beauty of pregnancy, and the lovely ordinariness of it all. Doesn't every pregnant woman want to feel like everything is still normal, even though it's undeniably different?

Would you or have you done a maternity photo shoot? I wasn't feeling up for professional pictures when I was pregnant with Seb (or any pictures!), but now I do wish I had a few, especially in Kelly Hicks' style.

The...

left | right

[via]

[via]

Counting sheep

[via]

Books | Anne of Avonlea Wisdom

[via]

Golden nuggets from Anne of Avonlea:

"I'll be eleven. You'd never think it to look at me, would you? Grandma says I'm very small for my age and that it's all because i don't eat enough porridge. I do my very best, but Grandma gives such generous platefuls... there's nothing mean about Grandma, I can tell you. Ever since you and I had that talk about praying going home from Sunday School that day, teacher... when you said we ought to pray about all our difficulties... I've prayed every night that God would give me enough grace to enable me to eat every bit of my porridge in the mornings. But I've never been able to do it yet, and whether it's because I have too little grace or too much porridge I really can't decide. Grandma says father was brought up on porridge, and it certainly did work well in his case, for you ought to see the shoulders he has. But sometimes," concluded Paul with a sigh and a meditative air, "I really think porridge will be the death of me."

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery, Pages 126-127

And a verse I like:

"In the elder days of art

     Builders wrought with greatest care

Each minute and unseen part,

     For the gods see everywhere."

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery, Page137

The Dignity of Motherhood

 
I love the dignity and strength that Dorothea Lange reveals in this photograph of a Migrant Mother. This woman—she is supermom.

An American in Paris-2000 Streets

My friend Hannah is living and working in Paris for a year, and shares her experiences, amazing photos, and love of all things culinary on her blog, 2000 Streets. A few of her photos are below, but I would highly recommend checking out her blog for yourself. Her vivid descriptions of life in France are breathtaking and I know you'll find yourself enraptured by her zest for life and enthusiasm for flowers, food, color and the atmosphere of Paris.

She writes, "Paris draws in the lost and wandering and fosters dreams that you forgot,or never knew you had. It is a safety valve of sorts, an Elysian escape from real lifewhere we imagine that we could flee and rediscover ourselves among the backdrop of artists and gypsies, centuries old architecture and modern philosophies, color, light, smells, and sounds."

Although this photo was actually taken by Hannah's brother, I had to share it with you. Isn't it lovely? I guess talent runs in the family!

Update: Hannah has a new blog about her post-Paris life, and it is every bit as fabulous.